is it illegal to spot light deers?

ok. last night i went spot lighting deers , and want to know if this is legal or illegal

ok. last night at 4am after cruise night, we had a big big deer run out infront of the car, well we missed it DAM i wanted some spring deer meat. (jk...) well i had my flashlight on me , (ok maybe not a little flashlight but a 700lm spotlight) so i turned it on and looked into the bush/field and omg there where like 30 deer. and they where laying down. so i pulled out my cam. (had it on me seeing it was cruise night.) and snaped some pics of them. (this was outside of the city) no guns in the car this night (pulled them out seeing it was cruise night and cops pull you over all the time.) also they started to "walk into the light!" then we drove away when they got maybe 10ft from the car. (dum deer!)

well is it legal or illegal to do this seeing we had no guns.
i think it is illegal what do you think?

IMHO, you did nothing wrong as it is permissible to photograph wildlife at night. It is common practice by both amateur and professional photographers to use spotlights to get after dark polar bear pics here in the fall. You would not be guilty of harassing wildlife unless you attempted to chase them with your vehicle; if you let them wander away or wander closer at their own will, there is no harassment.

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You aren't breaking the law unless it is evident that you are causing the deer discomfort. The harassment part of the ontario hunting regs was implemented to give CO's the tools to deal with anti hunters chasing animals away from legal hunters. If in doubt call the local CO and make sure you let him know that you're just watching the deer for enjoyment. I am friends with our local CO and make sure to ask him about anything I'm unsure of.

P.S. When I'm done hunting at night and my guns are locked in the toolbox of my truck I frequently shine a light in a couple fields that I do not hunt just to see if the same old doe is still alive. Most nights she's there staring back at me. I wouldn't be concerned.
 
No offence man, but sounds like you need to distance yourself from your dad.

Good that you're questioning things though, because you're going to get screwed eventually otherwise.


Also, as a sideline, this is a forum, but spelling and grammar count ;). It makes it way easier for us to understand.

Once again though, good on you for questioning his actions. Being a responsible gun owner and hunter is about upholding the law and standing up for what you believe is right.
 
I guess some provinces do not allow coon hunting at night? Everytime a vehicle goes down a highway it shines lights in areas where deer are. Worm pickers in fields shine lights at night where deer are? I walk into my deer stand at dark and have walked into deer with a light on, is that a violation? How do you people get to your camps in the woods when it is dark with ATV's, vehicles, boats or by foot? We are than all guilty when following wounded game at night with a light or a vehicle and for gods sake if you are a farmer looking for cattle at night do not use a spot light, p/u or tractor?
 
.... If you're "FIRST NATIONS" Hunting for Food/Ceremonial purposes, a Judge on Vancouver ruled it was OK (Provincial Court ) and be damned with the safety issues. Otherwise it's definitely a NO No to Pit Lamp. Just illuminating for the purpose of taking Photographs, would be a challenge to convict, if done quickly and without undue "stress " on the Animal. .... David K
 
Quebec rules :

1) For coon hunting at night it is permitted to use a rimfire rifle, a trained coon dog and a light but you must advise the game warden before proceeding giving the location and the time of the hunt.
2) Walking to your deer stand is allowed if you use a light of 6 volts or less and shine it on the trail to see where you are walking and you are not shining it all over the place looking for game.
3) You can drive to your camp site with your ATV, car or truck or what have you as long as you light the road and not all aver the field in order to detect game.
4) Tracking a wounded game at night can be done without a firearm (or bow or crossbow) using a light of 6 volts or less and lighting the ground to see the signs left by the game and not all over the bush. A trained bloodhound is recommended. It is good practice and highly recommended to advise the game warden before beginning the tracking. Bloodhound owners’ associations will help with the tracking for free (at the present time) if you contact them.
 
Read your MB hunting regs. This is how 'hunting is defined in MB.
"The Wildlife Act defines “hunting” as chasing, driving, flushing,
attracting, pursuing, worrying, following after or on the trail of,
searching for, shooting at, stalking or lying in wait for wildlife,
whether or not the wildlife is then or subsequently captured,
killed, taken or wounded..."
 
Read your MB hunting regs. This is how 'hunting is defined in MB.
"The Wildlife Act defines “hunting” as chasing, driving, flushing,
attracting, pursuing, worrying, following after or on the trail of,
searching for, shooting at, stalking or lying in wait for wildlife,
whether or not the wildlife is then or subsequently captured,
killed, taken or wounded..."

Basically just like the Ont. reg's I posted earlier.
As ridiculous as it sounds: ;)
We are all soon going to have to walk around looking at the ground...BUT WAIT...there is a frog/turtle/snake, OMG I'm HUNTING (searching for).
Ever look out the window at the bird feeder=HUNTING (attracting). Ever had a grouse flush while hiking=HUNTING (flushing). Ever had a deer run beside you down the road=HUNTING (pursuing).
All of those fit the definition of HUNTING...but that is why there is discretion on the part of the CO.
It's a judgment call on the charge. If you dis-agree...GO TO COURT. :)
 
You are not allowed to spotlight animals period.
Want to check out wildlife at night, get some low light binos, and fill your boots, no lights , its not allowed, or ethical

Raccoons at night in Ontario are OK to hunt with a spotlight.

Page 74 of the 2009 Ontario Hunting Regulation Guide. Resident License to hunt Raccoon at night costs $18.75
 
You hunters in Quebec must be bad a$$es and have lots of wardens sitting around waiting for your phone calls? I hope the blood hounds are not owned by the wardens bro? And I thought we in Ontario had some dumb laws? Walking around with your head down will get you a lot of branches in the head? How do you guys turn around in the dark, do you turn your vehicle lights off?
I forgot to mention the duck hunters in our moose camp come in and out with Q beam (1,000,000 plus power) in power boats and they shine the lights left and right along the shore and we have moose in the water many nights? The CO's/OPP come in the same way?
 
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